Rock Magic Travels East to Try for Miracle Run in Group 1 Lightning

Rock Magic may be in need of some magic rocks if he is to figure in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000 m) Saturday coming at Flemington.

He has drawn barrier one, as he did the last time he ran at Flemington, the Group 1 Darley Classic last spring.

Barrier number should matter little in a race down the Flemington straight and Rock Magic was the top finisher of the runners close to the rail, but five finished ahead of him, all from the outside barriers, ranging from the sixth to the 12th slot.

Rock Magic does most of his racing in Perth and the eight-year-old son of Redoute’s Choice last won in June of 2017 at Belmont. He has not won above Group 3 level and his best finish at Group 1 was a third placing in the Winterbottom Stakes in 2016 at Ascot.

Ladbrokes has Rock Magic quoted at $21 and he will need the race of his life to get past a field that includes The Everest winner Redzel, Terravista and Hey Doc. Rock Magic’s odds are the highest in the race, a dubious distinction shared with Super Too.

On the outside of the Lightning barrier, favourite Redzel will jump from the same number nine spot from which he jumped in the Darley, so for punters who believe omens are as good a way as any to make selections, here is an opportunity based on numerology.

Redzel is carrying a $1.80 quote, along with Kerrin McEvoy, the best odds by far, as second-favourite Hey Doc is listed at $8.00, followed closely by 2017 Lightning winner Terravista.

Terravista has fallen from favour to a degree, because the eight-year-old gelding of foreign extraction has not won since the Lightning in 2017.

Barring any late scratchings, the field for the 2018 Lightning Stakes will be made up of 10 runners.